Mobile terminal comprising lid unit with key device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a mobile terminal comprising a lid unit arranged to substantially block an opening in a mobile terminal housing in an assembled state of the mobile terminal and arranged to allow access through the opening into the interior of the mobile terminal when removed from the opening, wherein the mobile terminal lid unit comprises at least one key device for controlling at least one function on the mobile terminal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/728,080, filed Dec. 27, 2012, which is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/CN2011/081002, filed Oct. 20, 2011.Both of the aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated byreference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal comprising a lid unitarranged to substantially block an opening in a mobile terminal housingin an assembled state of the mobile terminal and arranged to allowaccess through the opening into the interior of the mobile terminal whenremoved from the opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mobile terminals, e.g. mobile telephones, mobile user equipment,personal digital assistants, mobile computers, tablet computers,notebook computers, laptop computers, etc., usually comprise at leastone component part such as a battery, a SIM-card, a memory card, etc.which needs to be protected from the environment outside the mobileterminal during use as the environment may contain e.g. particles ormoisture and which component part at the same time needs to be easilyaccessible from the outside of the mobile terminal for e.g. replacementpurposes.

In order to at the same time both protect and grant easy access to acomponent part such as a memory card inside a mobile terminal, aremovable lid covering the access opening in a mobile terminal housingfor the component part to be both protected and accessed may be arrangedon the mobile terminal. If the mobile terminal is to be used in a verydusty and/or very moist environment, a dust proof and/or moisture proofseal may be arranged between the mobile terminal housing and the lid inorder to further protect the interior of the mobile terminal housingduring use by preventing dust and/or moisture from entering the interiorof the mobile terminal housing through the access opening. Such a sealmay be arranged by arranging a lid of rubber material which lid isarranged in the assembled state of the mobile terminal to both cover theaccess opening and in a sealing manner abut against the exterior mobileterminal housing surface along the edge of the access opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal withimproved water protection of the mobile terminal housing, i.e.protection against moisture entering the interior of the mobile terminalfrom the outside of the mobile terminal housing.

The object is achieved by arranging a mobile terminal comprising a lidunit arranged to substantially block an opening in a mobile terminalhousing in an assembled state of the mobile terminal and arranged toallow access through the opening into the interior of the mobileterminal when removed from the opening, which mobile terminal lid unitfurther comprises at least one key device for controlling at least onefunction on the mobile terminal.

By arranging at least one key device in a mobile terminal lid unit,where the key device is arranged to control at least one function on themobile terminal, it is possible to decrease the number of openings inthe mobile terminal housing for key devices arranged to control at leastone function on the mobile terminal, this as the functionality of alatter type of key device arranged in an own from a lid opening separateopening may be replaced by the functionality of a former type of keydevice arranged in the same opening as said lid unit. By decreasing thenumber of openings in the mobile terminal housing, fewer openings in themobile terminal housing have to be sealed in order to prevent moisturefrom entering the interior of the mobile terminal, whereby the waterprotection of the mobile terminal housing is improved.

Another advantage of improving the water protection of the mobileterminal housing according to the present invention is that bydecreasing the number of openings required in the mobile terminalhousing, the freedom of designing the mobile terminal housing increasesas fewer parts of the mobile terminal have influence on the outlines ofexternal surface of the mobile terminal, thus decreasing the designrestrictions that the openings in the mobile terminal housing have onthe freedom to design the mobile terminal housing.

A further advantage of improving the water protection of the mobileterminal housing according to the present invention is that bydecreasing the number of openings required in the mobile terminalhousing, the cost for sealing off the interior of the mobile terminalfrom the outside environment may be decreased.

Yet another advantage of improving the water protection of the mobileterminal housing according to the present invention is that bydecreasing the number of openings required in the mobile terminalhousing, the impact of the openings on the strength of the mobileterminal housing may be decreased.

This present invention also achieves the possibility to decrease thecost of sealing the opening or openings in a mobile terminal housing.

It is according to the present invention possible to altogethereliminate all key devices arranged in own from a lid opening separateopenings, whereby it is possible to achieve improved water protection ofthe mobile terminal housing and at the same time to achieve a veryminimalistic design of the outlines of the external surface of themobile terminal as the mobile terminal housing in this case comprisesone opening only to be sealed in order to prevent moisture from enteringthe interior of the mobile terminal, which opening may be arranged at apreferred location on the mobile terminal housing. It would e.g. bepossible to arrange said opening with such dimensions that all parts ofthe mobile terminal that need to be accessible from the outside such ase.g. a replaceable battery and/or a replaceable SIM-card and/or areplaceable memory card etc. could be accessible through one and thesame opening in a mobile terminal housing. A one and the same lid unitcould be arranged to allow access through the opening into the interiorof the mobile terminal when removed from the opening, which openingcould be substantially blocked by said lid unit in the assembled stateof the mobile terminal. Said mobile terminal lid unit could compriseonly one single key device for controlling at least one function on themobile terminal, e.g. to control the function of powering up the mobileterminal, where the powering down could be controlled e.g. by using avirtual key on at least a part of a capacitive touch panel used as animage output device on the mobile terminal. If the said single keydevice is of a type that does not need to extend all the way through thelid unit and thus may be arranged in a watertight manner on the saidsingle lid unit, and if possible other devices such as e.g. microphonesand/or speakers etc. also are arranged in a watertight manner on themobile terminal, e.g. on the housing and/or the lid unit, only oneopening on the whole mobile terminal housing in which a part of themobile terminal is movably arranged needs to be sealed, thussignificantly improving the water protection of the mobile terminalhousing.

The sealing between the mobile terminal housing and the lid unit whichis arranged to substantially block an opening in a mobile terminalhousing in an assembled state of the mobile terminal may be implementedby sealing means integrated in the mobile terminal housing and/orsealing means integrated in the lid unit and/or separate sealing means.

The mobile terminal lid unit is thus arranged to enable access to atleast one component part arranged inside the mobile terminal housingtogether with protecting the component part or parts from theenvironment outside the mobile terminal housing and controlling at leastone function of the mobile terminal.

Functions controlled by keys on mobile terminals may e.g. be speakervolume and/or microphone volume and/or power on and/or power off for themobile terminal, camera functions, etc.

In addition to preventing moisture such as water and/or other fluidsfrom entering the interior of the mobile terminal in assembled state ofthe mobile terminal, the lid unit may also prevent dust particles and/orother solids and/or gases from entering the interior of the mobileterminal.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the key device is aphysical key.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the key device is avirtual key.

Further advantages of the invention will be apparent from the followingdetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended drawings are intended to clarify and explain differentembodiments of the present invention in which:

FIG. 1 shows a mobile terminal in assembled state;

FIG. 2 shows a mechanical solution according an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 3 shows the embodiment of the lid unit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the lid unit in exploded view; and

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the lid unit in exploded view, and

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the lid unit in exploded view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a mobile terminal 2 in assembled state, where the mobileterminal 2 comprises a lid unit 4 arranged to substantially block anopening 6 in a mobile terminal housing 8 in an assembled state of themobile terminal 2 and arranged to allow access through the opening 6into the interior 10 of the mobile terminal 2 when removed from theopening 6, wherein the mobile terminal lid unit 4 comprises at least onekey device 12 for controlling at least one function on the mobileterminal 2.

As can be seen in the figure, the lid unit 4 may be inserted at least inpart into the opening 6 in the assembled state of the mobile terminal 2.

The lid unit 4 may e.g. be detachably arranged on the mobile terminal 2,or be pivotally attached to the mobile terminal 2 e.g. using a hinge, orbe slidably attached to the mobile terminal 2 e.g. in a sliding trayfashion.

By arranging a mobile terminal 2 comprising a lid unit 4 as mentionedabove, the object of providing a mobile terminal 2 with improved waterprotection of the mobile terminal housing 8, i.e. protection againstmoisture entering the interior of the mobile terminal 2 from the outsideof the mobile terminal housing 8, is achieved.

By arranging at least one key device 12 in a mobile terminal lid unit 4,where the key device 12 is arranged to control at least one function onthe mobile terminal 2, it is possible to decrease the number of openingsin the mobile terminal housing 8 for key devices arranged to control atleast one function on the mobile terminal, this as the functionality ofa latter type of key device arranged in an own from a lid openingseparate opening may be replaced by the functionality of a former typeof key device arranged in the same opening 6 as said lid unit 4.

By decreasing the number of openings in the mobile terminal housing 8,fewer openings in the mobile terminal housing 8 have to be sealed inorder to prevent moisture from entering the interior 10 of the mobileterminal 2, whereby the water protection of the mobile terminal housing8 is improved.

Another advantage of improving the water protection of the mobileterminal housing 8 according to the present invention is that bydecreasing the number of openings required in the mobile terminalhousing 8, the freedom of designing the mobile terminal housing 8increases as fewer parts 4 of the mobile terminal 2 have influence onthe outlines of external surface 14 of the mobile terminal 2, thusdecreasing the design restrictions that the openings in the mobileterminal housing 8 have on the freedom to design the mobile terminalhousing 8.

A further advantage of improving the water protection of the mobileterminal housing 8 according to the present invention is that bydecreasing the number of openings required in the mobile terminalhousing 8, the cost for sealing off the interior 10 of the mobileterminal 2 from the outside environment 16 may be decreased.

Yet another advantage of improving the water protection of the mobileterminal housing 8 according to the present invention is that bydecreasing the number of openings required in the mobile terminalhousing 8, the impact of the openings on the strength of the mobileterminal housing 8 may be decreased.

This present invention also achieves the possibility to decrease thecost of sealing the opening 6 or openings in a mobile terminal housing8.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, two key devices 12, 18 are shown onthe lid unit 4.

It is according to the present invention possible to altogethereliminate all key devices arranged in own from a lid opening 6 separateopenings, whereby it is possible to achieve improved water protection ofthe mobile terminal housing 8 and at the same time to achieve a veryminimalistic design of the outlines of the external surface 14 of themobile terminal 2 as the mobile terminal housing 8 in this casecomprises one opening 6 only to be sealed in order to prevent moisturefrom entering the interior 10 of the mobile terminal 2, which opening 6may be arranged at a preferred location on the mobile terminal housing8. It would e.g. be possible to arrange said opening 6 with suchdimensions that all parts of the mobile terminal 2 that need to beaccessible from the outside 16 such as e.g. a replaceable battery and/ora replaceable SIM-card and/or a replaceable memory card etc. could beaccessible through one and the same opening 6 in a mobile terminalhousing 8. A one and the same lid unit 4 could be arranged to allowaccess through the opening 6 into the interior 10 of the mobile terminal2 when removed from the opening 6, which opening 6 could besubstantially blocked by said lid unit 4 in the assembled state of themobile terminal 2. Said mobile terminal lid unit 4 could comprise onlyone single key device 12 for controlling at least one function on themobile terminal 2, e.g. to control the function of powering up themobile terminal, where the powering down could be controlled e.g. byusing a virtual key 20 on at least a part of a capacitive touch panel 22used as an image output device on the mobile terminal 2. If the saidsingle key device 12 is of a type that does not need to extend all theway through the lid unit 4 and thus may be arranged in a watertightmanner on the said single lid unit 4, and if possible other devices suchas e.g. microphones and/or speakers etc. also are arranged in awatertight manner on the mobile terminal 2, e.g. on the housing and/orthe lid unit, only one opening 6 on the whole mobile terminal housing 8in which a part 4 of the mobile terminal 2 is movably arranged needs tobe sealed, thus significantly improving the water protection of themobile terminal housing 8.

The sealing between the mobile terminal housing 8 and the lid unit 4which is arranged to substantially block an opening 6 in a mobileterminal housing 8 in an assembled state of the mobile terminal 2 may beimplemented by sealing means 23, which sealing means may be integratedin the mobile terminal housing and/or in the lid unit and/or be separatesealing means.

The mobile terminal lid unit 4 is thus arranged to enable access to atleast one component part arranged inside the mobile terminal housing 8together with protecting the component part or parts from theenvironment 16 outside the mobile terminal housing 8 and controlling atleast one function of the mobile terminal 2.

Functions controlled by keys on mobile terminals may e.g. be speakervolume and/or microphone volume and/or power on and/or power off for themobile terminal, camera functions, etc.

In addition to preventing moisture such as water and/or other fluidsfrom entering the interior 10 of the mobile terminal 2 in assembledstate of the mobile terminal 2, the lid unit 4 may also prevent dustparticles and/or other solids and/or gases from entering the interior 10of the mobile terminal 2.

FIG. 2 shows a mechanical solution according to an embodiment of theinvention, where the interior 10 of the mobile terminal 2 is exposed,according to which embodiment the key device 12, 18 comprises a physicalkey 24, 26. According to this embodiment, a detection switch 28, 30 isarranged to detect the movement of a key 24, 26. According to thisembodiment, the lid unit 4 comprises a lid 32 where further at least apart of said physical key 24, 26 is movably arranged in relation to thelid 32.

FIG. 3 shows the embodiment of the lid unit 4 shown in FIG. 2 fromanother angle. As can be seen in the figure, the lid unit 4 comprises alid 32 and at least one physical key 24, 26 movably arranged in relationto the lid 32. A stop member 34 may be arranged to prevent the keys 24,26 from separating from the lid 32.

The lid 32 and the at least one key 24, 26 is assembled together intoone part where the at least one key is able to move in relation to thelid 32. A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) or a Flexible Printed Circuit(FPC) may be added to this unit with solder switches that may beconnected to corresponding part in the mobile terminal interior in theassembled state of the mobile terminal. Optionally, the Printed CircuitBoard (PCB) or a Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) may be arranged in theinterior of the mobile terminal. It is possible to use different typesof detection switches. The keys 24, 26 may be of different types, e.g. ahardtop with a keytop part in silicon rubber or other soft materialglued together, or hardtop with backside and single keys mountedbetween, or unit glued or ultrasound welded together into one unit.

As mentioned above, the movement of said at least one physical key 24,26 is arranged to influence a detection switch, where the detectionswitch may be arranged in the lid unit 4 and may be arranged on a PCB ora FPC arranged in the lid unit 4. Optionally, the detection switch maybe arranged in the interior of the mobile terminal and may be arrangedon a PCB or a FPC arranged in the interior of the mobile terminal.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the lid unit 4 in exploded viewaccording to which embodiment the key device 12, 18 comprises a physicalkey 24, 26 wherein the movement of at least one physical key 24, 26 isarranged to influence a resistive touch sensor 34.

The resistive touch sensor 34 has two layers that are not in contactwith each other in rest position, where the outer layer is a flexiblelayer coated on the inside with a conductor, e.g. Indium Tin Oxide (ITO)and the inner layer is a supporting layer of e.g. glass coated on itsoutside face with a conductor, e.g. ITO. Non conductive separator “dots”of e.g. mica or silica are arranged between the outer and the innerlayer. When the outer flexible layer is pressed against the inner layer,the resulting voltages can be measured in more than one direction, andby comparing these voltages to the starting voltage, the point where theouter layer was pressed can be calculated.

The resistive touch sensor 34 may be a resistive touch panel, and mayfurther be arranged in the lid unit 4. The resistive touch sensor 34 maybe connected to a PCB or a FPC arranged in the interior of the mobileterminal.

Comparing to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the detection switchesshown in FIG. 3 are replaced by the resistive touch sensor 34. Thefeeling of a keystroke may be integrated into this embodiment by addinga dome to the resistive touch sensor.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the lid unit 4 in exploded viewaccording to which embodiment the key device 12, 18 comprises a physicalkey 24, 26 wherein the at least one physical key 24, 26 is arranged witha capacitance 36, 38 and where the movement of said physical key 24, 26is arranged to influence a capacitive touch sensor 40.

A capacitive touch sensor 40 comprises a support part of e.g. a glasssheet with a conductive coating on one side. A circuit pattern aroundthe support part sets a charge across the support part surface whichcharge is disturbed by e.g. a finger or another means creating anelectrical disturbance of the charge when touching or nearly touchingthe screen.

The capacitive touch sensor 40 may be a capacitive touch panel, and mayfurther be arranged in the lid unit 4.

The capacitive touch sensor 40 may be arranged at the side of the lidunit 4 facing towards the interior of the mobile terminal, or at theside of the lid unit 4 facing towards the exterior of the mobileterminal or be arranged there between. The capacitive touch sensor 40may be connected to a PCB or a FPC arranged in the interior of themobile terminal, and may further be connected to the main electricalboard of the mobile terminal.

Comparing to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the detection switchesshown in FIG. 3 are replaced by the capacitive touch sensor 40. Thefeeling of a keystroke may be integrated into this embodiment by addinga dome to the capacitive touch sensor.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the lid unit 4 in exploded viewwherein said key device 12 comprises a virtual key 42. The virtual key42 may be arranged on at least a part of a capacitive touch sensor 44,wherein further the capacitive touch sensor 44 may be a capacitive touchpanel.

The capacitive touch sensor 44 may be arranged in the lid unit 4, andmay further be arranged at the side of the lid unit 4 facing towards theinterior of the mobile terminal or at the side of the lid unit 4 facingtowards the exterior of the mobile terminal.

The capacitive touch sensor 44 may be connected to a PCB or a FPCarranged in the interior of the mobile terminal, and may further beconnected to the main electrical board of the mobile terminal.

As no mechanical movement in the lid unit 4 is needed to active thecapacitive touch sensor when using e.g. a finger to activate thecapacitive touch sensor 44, this solution does not need any moving partsin the lid unit 4. The capacitive touch sensor 44 may be mounted on anyside of the lid and also molded into the lid unit 4, i.e. overmolded byplastic material.

Also other types of mechanical and/or virtual keys are possible. Thevirtual key may e.g. also comprise an infrared sensor, wherein theinfrared sensor may be an infrared touch sensor.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above,but also relates to and incorporates all embodiments within the scope ofthe appended independent claim.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile terminal comprising: a housing having anexterior surface with an opening disposed thereon that provides accessto an interior area of the housing; a lid unit and tray that is receivedby the opening such that the lid unit and tray can be removed slidablyfrom the opening with the mobile terminal in an assembled state, whereinone or more removable cards are disposed on the tray, one of the one ormore removable cards comprises a SIM-card or a memory card; the lid unitand tray configured to be manually slidably inserted into the openingsuch that the tray is totally inserted into the opening; the lid unitand tray comprises an external portion substantially covering theopening when the lid unit and tray is inserted into the opening; a firstkey device disposed on the external portion of the lid unit and tray andconfigured to control at least a first function of the mobile terminalwhen the first key device is manipulated; and a second key devicedisposed on the external portion of the lid unit and tray and configuredto control at least one second function of the mobile terminal when thesecond key device is manipulated, wherein the first key device and thesecond key device are volume keys.
 2. The mobile terminal according toclaim 1, wherein each of first and second key devices is coupled to acorresponding detection switch disposed in the interior area andconfigured to detect movement of the corresponding key device.
 3. Themobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein first and second keydevices are movable relative to the exterior surface of the housing. 4.The mobile terminal according to claim 3, wherein each of the detectionswitches is arranged on a printed circuit board (PCB) or a flexibleprinted circuit (FPC).
 5. The mobile terminal according to claim 2,wherein movement of each of the first and second key devices is arrangedto control a resistive touch sensor.
 6. The mobile terminal according toclaim 2, wherein each of the first and second key devices is associatedwith a capacitance, and movement of each of the first and second keydevices controls a capacitive touch sensor.
 7. The mobile terminalaccording to claim 6, wherein the capacitive touch sensor is arranged inthe lid unit and tray.
 8. The mobile terminal according to claim 1,wherein the first key device is configured to turn up the volume of themobile terminal when the first key device is manipulated.
 9. The mobileterminal according to claim 8, wherein the second key device isconfigured to turn down the volume of the mobile terminal when thesecond key device is manipulated.